Roderick Wright (politician)

Roderick Wright
Member of the California State Senate from the 35th district 25th district (2008–2012)
In office December 1, 2008 – September 22, 2014
Preceded by	Edward Vincent
Member of the California State Assembly from the 48th district
In office December 2, 1996 – December 2, 2002
Preceded by	Marguerite Archie-Hudson
Succeeded by	Mark Ridley-Thomas
Personal details
Born	Roderick Devon Wright July 3, 1952 Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Children	2
Residence	Inglewood, California
Alma mater	Pepperdine University
Occupation	Legislator
Religion	African Methodist Episcopal

Roderick Devon "Rod" Wright (born July 3, 1952)^[1][2] is a Democratic politician who previously represented California's 35th State Senate district until his resignation on September 22, 2014. He previously represented the 25th district from 2008-2012. Wright also represented California's 48th State Assembly district from 1996 until he was term limited in 2002.

Education and pre-legislative career

Senator Wright obtained his degree in Urban Studies and City Planning at Pepperdine University.

Prior to his initial entrance into elected office in 1996, Senator Wright was the District Director to Congresswoman Maxine Waters where he assisted citizens with federal matters such as Social Security, Medi-Care and veterans issues among others.

Legislative career

Wright was then elected to the California State Assembly in 1996 representing the 48th Assembly District covering much of south Los Angeles County. From 1998 until 2002, Wright served as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce (U&C) which held legislative jurisdiction over electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, private water corporations and other issues related to commerce. Wright has been recognized for his work in the areas of public safety, education, energy and utilities, small business, family law and consumer privacy.^[3]

2008 primary

Entering the 2008 primary season, Wright had been out of politics for six years and was initially not considered a strong candidate against the front runner, former Lieutenant Governor and Congressman Mervyn Dymally. However, with his own fundraising and help from independent expenditure groups, Wright was able to overcome his lack of name recognition in the area – most of the area Wright represented in the California State Assembly is in California's 26th Senate District.^[4]

2010 harassment settlement

In April 2010, California Senate leaders secretly approved a $120,000 settlement in a harassment claim against Wright.^[5]

2010 indictment and 2014 conviction

In September 2010, a Los Angeles County grand jury unsealed an eight-count felony indictment against state Sen. Roderick Wright accusing him of filing a false declaration of candidacy, voter fraud and perjury beginning in 2007, when he changed his voter registration to run for the Legislature.

Wright was convicted of eight counts of voter fraud on January 28, 2014. In September, he was sentenced to ninety days' confinement and banned from public office for the rest of his life.^[6][7][8]

Wright resigned from the State Senate on September 22, 2014.^[9]

References

1. Senator Roderick Wright of California at the Wayback Machine (archived April 29, 2010)
2. http://articles.latimes.com/1991-01-17/local/me-299_1_candidates-filing
3. "Senator Rod Wright". Retrieved 2009-01-19.
4. The California Majority Report // Senate Leadership Scores Big with Rod Wright
5. "State Senate approves settlement in harassment case against Sen. Rod Wright". Daily Breeze. 15 December 2011.
6. California Sen. Wright gets 90 days in jail for perjury, voter fraud; by Jean Merl, 12 September 2014LA Times
7. Merl, Jean (September 17, 2010). "State Sen. Roderick Wright indicted on charges of voter fraud and perjury". Los Angeles Times.
8. Merl, Jean (January 28, 2014). "State Sen. Roderick Wright found guilty of perjury, voter fraud". Los Angeles Times.
9. Lin, Judy (September 15, 2014). "Rod Wright Resigns After Voter Fraud Case". Huffington Post.